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You’ve probably heard that stress is bad for your health, but what many people don’t realize is that stress can cause vision loss, too. While stress-related vision loss is often temporary, many people with common, underlying eye and health conditions aren’t always so lucky, which is why stress management is vital.

According to Key-Whitman Eye Center’s Plano eye doctor Faisal Haq, “Generically, stress is bad for us in many ways. It can cause high blood pressure, increase cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’) levels and elevate sugar levels in the blood, which are direct consequences of stress on the body. Then there are the indirect consequences of stress. There’s no doubt that high blood pressure, high cortisol levels and elevated blood sugars can exacerbate certain eye diseases and conditions, which may lead to permanent vision loss for some patients.”

How stress plays a role in vision loss for people with high blood pressure, glaucoma and diabetes

No. 1: High blood pressure increases the risk of vision loss due to vascular disease.

Stress can raise blood pressure, which can increase the incidence of vascular disease. This includes vascular disease of the eye, a condition that can cause damage to the optic nerve and the retina, resulting in vision loss. Vascular disease can also lead to deterioration of the macula located in the back of the retina, which can exacerbate macular degeneration, a progressive, blinding disease.

No. 2: High cortisol levels increase the risk of vision loss due to glaucoma.

Stress increases cortisol levels, which is linked to high pressures in the eye. Increased eye pressure worsens glaucoma, a disease that can damage the optic nerve and even cause blindness.

No. 3: High blood sugar levels increase the risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.

Stress can raise blood sugar levels and make managing blood sugar more problematic for diabetics. Poorly controlled blood sugars contribute to diabetic retinopathy, a blinding condition where blood vessels in the back of the eye become weakened and leaky. Diabetic retinopathy may result in permanent vision loss if it isn’t diagnosed and treated early on.

Vision loss can also be a symptom of disease. Learn more in this recent post: Stroke, Heart Attack and Vision Loss: How Eye Doctors Save Eyes and Lives 

Reduce your risk for vision loss – get stress in check NOW

If you’re feeling stressed – especially if you have one of the underlying conditions discussed above – it’s important to take proactive steps to manage stress right away.

“When I talk with patients who are highly stressed and at risk for vision loss, one of my first pieces of advice is to schedule time with their primary care physician to work out a stress management plan. It’s so important to find ways to minimize stress and find balance in life,” Dr. Haq says.

To find a better work-life balance, Dr. Haq also encourages patients to think about the things they enjoy doing – reading, traveling, cooking, sports, etc. – and to dedicate more time to do those things.

As he explains, “Personally, I enjoy playing tennis or golf to reduce stress, but everybody is different. That’s why it’s important to work closely with your doctor to develop a customized plan for you. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from exercise, dietary changes, massage therapy, acupuncture, breathing exercises, counseling and other solutions. Most important, don’t delay. The sooner you get stress under control, the sooner you’ll reduce your risk of vision loss and other health issues.”

You can also find some helpful stress management tips from reputable organizations online. A few resources to consider include:

American Heart Association: 10 Ways to Fight Stress with Healthy Habits

American Psychological Association: 5 Tips to Help Manage Stress

American Diabetes Association: Reducing Mental Stress

Worried that stress could be affecting your vision? See your eye doctor

Many blinding eye diseases and conditions progress without any symptoms, which means, once you notice your vision is failing, it may be too late. This is the case with vascular eye diseases, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, eye doctors like Dr. Haq have the technology to screen for these conditions, even in their early stages.

“While it’s important to get stress under control, early diagnosis and treatment of eye disease are essential if you want to ward off permanent vision loss. If you’re seeing a doctor for a chronic health condition, you should be seeing your eye doctor regularly, too. We can monitor your eye health and prescribe treatments to help preserve your vision for the long-term,” says Dr. Haq.

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and would like to schedule an eye exam, we’d love to hear from you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Haq in our Plano office or another eye doctor in our Dallas, North Dallas, Arlington, South Arlington, Mesquite or Plano locations, give us a call at (972) 905-9128, or feel free to set up an appointment online.

ABOUT DR. HAQ:

Dr. Faisal Haq received his undergraduate degree from Boston University and earned his medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Haq has been tending to the needs of Key-Whitman patients since 2006 and was recently recognized as a “Best Doctor” in Collin County by D Magazine in 2011 and 2013-2017. Dr. Haq lives in Plano with his wife and two children. He loves to travel and has been on several surgical mission trips to Belize to perform charity cataract surgery.

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While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, the key to beauty and a youthful appearance may be in the hands of a skilled cosmetic surgeon who specializes in treating the eyes and areas around the eyes.

Are fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, droopy eyelids, bags under the eyes or sagging brows getting you down? Then a visit with Key-Whitman Eye Center’s oculofacial plastic surgeon Priya Kalyam may be just what you need.

Why choose an oculoplastic surgeon to help you look younger?

When we look at someone’s face, our gaze usually gravitates toward the eyes first, so when signs of aging appear on the face, people notice.

One of the first places the signs of aging show up is in the periorbital areas of the face. These areas include the forehead, eyelids, areas near the eyelids, as well as the eye socket and rims.

According to Dr. Kalyam, “If you rely on a plastic surgeon who specializes in treating the unique and complex anatomy of the eye, your results are typically going to be much more optimized in his or her hands than those of a physician who doesn’t specialize in that area.”

To hone her craft, Dr. Kalyam spent six years dedicated to studying the anatomy of the eye and periorbital areas. This included a full two years of surgical training during her oculoplastics fellowship at the esteemed Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Fives ways to get a fresh, youthful look with cosmetic procedures:

Dr. Kalyam recently joined Key-Whitman and is excited to offer patients a variety of anti-aging treatments – from minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures like cosmetic injections (Botox, fillers), laser resurfacing and chemical peels to surgical procedures, including eyelid lifts, under-eye bag correction, eyebrow lifts, mid-face lifts and others.

Ready for a younger-looking you? Dr. Kalyam breaks down the top facial aging culprits and how to address them below.

No. 1:  Wrinkles. The solution? Neurotoxins like Botox.

If wrinkles on your forehead, crow’s feet around the eyes or deep vertical lines between your brows are aging you beyond your years, you’re not alone. “Wrinkles are definitely the most common complaint I hear from patients. Injecting Botox in or near those areas creates a smooth appearance and also gives a refreshing look around the eyes,” Dr. Kalyam says.

No. 2: Sun-damaged skin and fine lines. The solution? Laser resurfacing, chemical peels and more.

According to Dr. Kalyam, “Here in Texas a lot of people experience sun damage. Unfortunately, sun damage can really age the skin. Depending on the patient, we may treat sun damage on the face with CO2 laser resurfacing, chemical peels, skin care solutions and facial creams.”

No. 3: Sagging facial skin. The solution? Fillers like JUVEDERM, Voluma and others.

You don’t have to have wrinkles to look older. As Dr. Kalyam explains, “People can still appear aged if they don’t have wrinkles, especially if they have volume loss near the eyes, cheeks or lips. Depending on the area of concern, we can inject fillers, typically composed of collagen or hyaluronic acid, to provide volume.”

No. 4: Acne and acne scars. The solution? Laser resurfacing, fillers and chemical peels.

Acne and acne scars can also make the face look old and tired. To reveal smoother, more vibrant skin, Dr. Kalyam may recommend laser resurfacing, fillers or chemical peels.

No. 5: Sagging eyelids and brows, bags under the eyes. The solution? Surgery.

“Sagging eyelids, brows and bags can definitely age your face. To address these issues we perform surgical eyelid lifts, brow lifts and surgery to address lower eyelid bags. These are by far the most common oculoplastic surgical procedures I perform. Surgery takes place at our state-of-the-art surgery center at Key-Whitman’s Dallas headquarters, where my office is located,” says Dr. Kalyam.

Want to explore your options for rejuvenating your look? Dr. Kalyam is here to listen.

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and would like to learn more about anti-aging treatments and procedures, Dr. Kalyam invites you to have a conversation at her relaxing, spa-like clinic inside Key-Whitman’s main Dallas location.

According to Dr. Kalyam, “I love to listen. When patients walk through my door, I’m interested in hearing their story first. I want to understand their concerns. From there, I create a customized treatment plan for them, and then we work together to come up with a solution that addresses their needs best.”

If you’d like to schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Kalyam – COMPLIMENTARY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 – contact us. Simply call our Dallas office at (972) 905-9128 or set up an appointment online.

ABOUT DR. KALYAM:

Priya Kalyam, M.D. specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive oculofacial plastic surgery.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers School of Engineering and her Doctor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Kalyam then completed her Residency in Ophthalmology at Yale University School of Medicine, followed by a two-year Fellowship with the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) at the prestigious Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Kalyam is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She is experienced in all areas of general ophthalmology and has completed advanced training in eyelid, orbit, tear duct system and facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. When she isn’t treating patients, she enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle and spending time with her husband.

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If you’ve ever purchased prescription eyeglasses or contacts and ended up disappointed with the selection of frames, how the glasses fit your face, or the comfort, quality or accuracy of your prescription, it may be time to look for a new optical center. Experience, convenience and quality products count when it comes to happy optical outcomes, which is what patients will find at Key-Whitman Eye Center’s NEW Plano Optical Center.

According to Key-Whitman Plano eye doctor Sadaf Razi, the new Optical Center will transform the existing location into the one-stop shop patients have been requesting.

As she explains, “Patients had been asking for the option for an optical center here onsite, and we listened. We wanted to make it more convenient for our patients, so now they can get their eye exams, glasses and contacts all in the same place.”

Rely on experienced optical pros to help you see and look your best in glasses or contacts

According to Dr. Razi, “We see a lot of patients who come to us for help after getting their glasses or contacts prescription filled elsewhere and ending up with all sorts of problems. We stand behind our care and products to make sure the patient has the most accurate prescription, along with the optimum fit for their face.”

One of the main reasons people are dissatisfied with their prescription eyeglasses or contacts is because the optician they worked with wasn’t properly trained.

“Experienced opticians are trained and specialize in knowing what style of frame is most flattering based on a patient’s facial structure and anatomy. Our opticians are also well versed in interviewing patients to understand what their visual demands, lifestyle and hobbies may be, so we can help them choose the best eyewear for their lifestyle,” Dr. Razi says.

Get tips on how to choose the best eyeglasses or sunglasses for your face here

At Key-Whitman Plano, Dr. Razi and her team also believe it’s essential that the eye doctor, optician and technical staff work together as a team to ensure proper fit and an accurate prescription. As Dr. Razi explains, “By working together, nothing is lost in translation, which helps create a seamless experience for the patient.”

For optimum optical results, choose an optical center with a full range of eyeglass frames AND high-tech lens options

All optical centers are NOT created equal, and you may have limited options for frames and high-tech eyeglass or contact lenses depending on where you go.

“When it comes to technology, Key-Whitman is dedicated to providing patients with a robust selection of high-tech lenses that help enhance vision correction, comfort and safety – including premium UV protection. That’s why you’ll find all of the top contact lens brands, as well as leading eyeglass lens brands (Varilux, Crizal, Transitions, Eyezen, ExperioUV and others) at Key-Whitman’s Optical Center in Plano and our other locations,” explains Dr. Razi.

Choosing the right frames is typically a very personal decision. Making a fashion statement is also important for many of Dr. Razi’s patients, while affordability is essential for others. That’s why Plano patients can choose from a vast assortment of frames, including designer styles (Tiffany, Tory Burch, Armani, PRADA, Versace, Maui Jim, Ray Ban and others); high-quality, affordable eyeglass frames and even prescription-grade, colored, cosmetic contact lenses.

Hey DFW! Looking for an optical center where everything is focused on YOU?

Along with our NEW Plano Optical Center, patients can also find premium, one-stop vision and optical care at Key-Whitman Eye Center locations in Dallas, North Dallas, South Arlington and Mesquite.

To schedule an eye exam or optical consultation with Dr. Razi in Plano or with an eye doctor or optician at another Key-Whitman location, give us a call at (972) 905-9128 or set up an appointment online.

ABOUT DR. RAZI:

Indiana native Dr. Sadaf Razi earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Purdue University and later earned her doctorate degree in Optometry from the Indiana University School of Optometry. She is certified to practice optometry in Texas by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Dr. Razi specializes in adult eye care, treating patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma, and also provides pre-operative and post-operative care for LASIK and cataract surgery patients. When not caring for patients, Dr. Razi enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.